The Boxcar Children

Written
by Gertrude Chandler Warner Illustrated by Likate Deal

Reviewed by Katie R. (age 9)

The Alden family is a family that is always ready for a mystery! So when Benny told his brother, Henry, his sisters Violet and Jessie, and his grandfather about his talk with his friend, Max, they were very interested. Max said that the island he visits has no mystery. The Alden family ends up going to the island. When they get there, they find out the people are not very nice at all, not a smile or anything. Then as Violet was painting, two twins named Marie and Hal came to watch. They asked if Violet would teach them how to paint. Violet thought for a moment, then she had a great idea! Violet left for a while, then she came back with some exiting news. She said that Miss Gray, (an old lady who lives in a mansion,) told Violet that they could use an old schoolhouse. Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny would teach school to the island kids. Within a few days of school, there was a huge problem. A man called "The Money Man" traded $10 for $9.50, less than $10. He also traded an old doll for a new doll. Benny knew that the man was cheating the kids. He had to do something about it. If you want to find out if Benny saves the children, read this book.

I love mystery books. This book is a mystery book too so it is a great book for me to read. I also like it because of the characters. If they were real people, they would probably be very nice people. Another reason I like the book is because the whole story, Benny was proving something to Max. (That there really is a mystery on that island.) I also like this book because it is exciting. You never know what is going to happen to the "Money Man". It also comes to life. You really feel like you are in the situation that the Alden children are in.

I recommend this book to people who like mystery books. If you like Gertrude Chandler Warner, then you will like this book. If you have read "The Boxcar Children" before, then you will like this book. People who like exiting books will like this book too. If you have read any other Boxcar Children books, then this book will be just as great!